Background: Diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), is a major insect pest of crucifers in the biodiversity-rich north-western Indian Himalayan hills. The present investigation was aimed at determining the susceptibility pattern of P. xylostella populations collected from different locations of this region to autochthonous and standard Bacillus thuringiensis strains.
Results: Among the reference as well as indigenous B. thuringiensis strains tested, sub spp. kurstaki HD-1, kurstaki HD-73, galleriae HD-8, local galleriae/colmeri strain BtOa1 and some of their Cry1 class toxins were found to be highly toxic. Surprisingly, the sub sp. tolworthi HD-125, local tolworthi strain BtHa1 and Cry9 class toxins were found to be non-toxic. Midgut homogenate from fourth-instar larvae was found to activate 130 kDa protoxin from the local tolworthi strain BtHa1 into 68 kDa toxin, but failed to exert any larval mortality, probably owing to lack of receptor binding.
Conclusion: The present study provides valuable baseline susceptibility data for the deployment of B. thuringiensis-based control methods, as well as for future monitoring of development of resistance in P. xylostella to B. thuringiensis in this ecologically sensitive region.